Shock-absorbing mechanism for automobiles



May 21, 1929. J, F, O'CONNQR l7`l32915 SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Nov. 12, 1926 Wrze@ .l J/,ZM www i @1W Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES einen arent seien.

JOHN' F. OOONNOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 W. I'I. MEIJER, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SHOCK-ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed November 12, 1926.

This invention relates to friction shock absorbing mechanism for automobiles` An object of the invention is to provde a shock absorbing mechanism to be used in connectionwith motor vehicles, especially of the bus types, and adapted to be associated therewith in such manner as to be operable by the relative movement between the usual axle housing and the chassis of the vehicle, and aid the usual springs which support the axle housing in absorbing shocks transmitted thereto through inequalities in the roadway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character which affords frictional resistance to the relative movement between the axle housing and the chassis of the vehicle when the same approach each other and when they become separated with respect to each other, said mechanism including a toggle arrangement for imparting the required movement to the parts.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevaq tional view of aportion of the chassis, the usual rear spring assembly,l and axle housing, and showing the invention applied in operative position. Figure 2 is atop plan view of the portions of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention taken through the housing of the mechanism and showing the interior arrangement ofthe friction elements and actuating wedge means. Figure't is a vertical transverse sectional view substantially on the line L-a of Figure 3.

As shown in the drawings, 10 represents a fragment of the side frame forming part ofthe chassis of an automobile; 11 represents a spring assembly attached to 'the frame member in the usual manner, and 12 denotes an axle housing carried by the spring assembly 11.

1n carrying out the invention there is provided a supporting bracket 18 secured to the frame 10, between the spaced ears of which is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 14 a link 15, the free end of said link being provided with furcations 16-1G- `1nterniediate the length of the furcations 16-16 there is pivotally connected the up- Seral No. 147,903.

per end of an actuating link 17, by means of the pin 18, thelower end of the linlr 17 being pivotally connected, as indicated at 19, to a plate 2O secured to the axle housing Pivotally secured between theouter ends of the furcations 16--16, by means of a pivot pin 21, is the end portion of a` wedge element 22. The wedge element 22 comprises two spaced legs 23-23, each of which has an outer wedge surface 24 which diverges from a point adjacent the pivot pin 21 toward its end. The wedge element 22 extends inwardly into a housing 25. rfhe housing 25 is of two-part construction comprising oppositely disposed mated sections 26 and 27, only one of which will be described in detail. rlihe section 26 is roughly of rec tangular formation, and includes a Vertical wall 28 provided with a hub or boss 290 and formed integrally with the vertical wall 28 are angularly arranged top and bottom walls 128-128- The section 26 also includes a rear wall '29 having a central oitset 30 providing one-half of' a spring pocket, land at the corners provided by the walls 28 and 29 are webs B2- 32 providing material through which rivets 81-31 may project, the portions 32h32 providing stops in a manner hereinafter described. The end of the section 26 opposite the wall 29 is also provided with spaced webs 88-88 through which the rivets JA-34 may be projected, and said webs are provided with wedge faces 35f-85 adaptedrfor `co-opera tion with friction shoes hereinafter referred to. The walls 128 rare also provided with lugs 86-36 which are utilized as stops. The section 2'? of the casing is identical with the section 26, except for its opposite disposition, and contains all of the parts mentioned in connection with the section 26, it being understood that when the two sections are placed together and secured by means of the rivets 531-31 andtwt, that the various parts coincide and form the complete housing. l

Disposed in said housing between the legs 22?*23 of the actuating wedge 22 is a block 37, and extending through the block?? and the side walls 28 of the sections 2G and 27 and bosses 290-290 is a pivot pin 88 by means of which the housing is pivotally connected to a supporting bracket 39 and the web i0 of the member 10.

is provided with a friction surface 42 adapt-V ed to co-act with the diverging surface .of lthe adjacent leg 23 of the member 22, and is fui'.-

lther provided with a friction face 43`adapted to co-act with the friction face 35 oftheV housing, the shoe having cutout portion 44 adapted to permit movement `of the shoe with reference to the stop 86 upon the wall of the housing. The frictionshoe is also provided witha friction 'surface 45 adapted to cooperate with a wedge member 46. rEhe friction slice 41 at theopposite outer side of the other leg 23 of the member 22 is identical with the friction shoe described in detail, except for its opposite disposition, and sim# ilar reference characters will be utilized to designate like parts.l Y Y Y The wedge member 46 comprisesa rear wall 48 having apertures 49 therein to per init passage of the legs 23--23 of the member 22, and said wedge member is provided with oppositely extending wedge surfaces 47 adapted toco-act withthe' wedge surfaces of the friction shoes 414-41. "A coiled springe() is disposed in the pocket 30` of the housing and bears upon the rear wall 48 of the wedge member 46. Y

lnoperation, upon relative approach of the axle housing 12 and thefranie member 10, the link 17 transmits upward swinging movement to the link 15 about the pivot pin 14 which causes outward andV upward movement of the wedging member 22, rwhich causes'the housing 25 to swing about the pivot l38. During the outward movement of the wedge member'22, due to the diverging outer surfaces of the legs 23 23, the shoes 41441` will be wedged toward the walls 128-128 of the casi-ng, bringing about vfrictional engagement between the wedge surfaces'B-S and the friction surfaces 43f-43 of the` friction shoes 41-41. This nievev ment will also bring aboutffrictional` resistance between the surfaces42--42v of theshoes 41-41 with the diverging outer surfaces of the legs 23-23 of the member 22. During this movementV the shoes A41--41 willA travelV toward the wall 29 of thecasing, and the Vfriction surfaces 45H45 of the shoes 41-41 co-act with the wedge surfaces 4?47 of the wedge member 46, A4.which'latter is resisted by the spring 50. vMovement of the friction shoes 41-41, and of the wedge member 46, are'limited by the'stops 36e-36 and 32--32 respectively; v'When the axle housing and frame 10 resume their normal positions,

lievirig`v the pressure, and permitting the parts to be returned to their original pesi'- Y tions under the influence of the spring 50.

Upon relative separation of the axle housing 12 and frame member 10 beyond that which ordinarily occurs the link 15 will be swung downwardly about the pivot 14 through its connection with the link 17, and this movement will resultin outward and downward movement of the 'member 22, the housing swinging about the pin 38, and the same action which was described in detailV upon the approach Ycf the axle housing 12 and member 10 will occur, and frictional resistance will Vbe developed to excessive separation of the axle housing 12'and member 10.v Y i Y fBy this arrangement it `will be observed that'a toggle effect is provided which 'brings about movement of the wedge member 22 in the same direction whether the member 10 and f axle i housingV separateV 'beyond normal position, or 'approach beyond normal position, thereby efficiently developing frictional resistance to movement ofthe axle housingk in opposite directions with reference to the member 10 in a simple and effective manner.

While I have herein shown and described what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out the inventiomrthe Ysame is merely illustrative, and I contemplate allchanges and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto. I'cl'aim: Y

1. In a device of the character described the combination with a pivotally mounted housing; ofa wedge element having spaced legs extending into saidhousing; a block dis,- posed betweenthe legs of said member, said block being carried by saidV housing; fric'-, tion means co-acting l.with the legsbf said wedge element to develop frictional resistance thereon when' reciprocated. in one direction; and swingable means for imparting recipro cation to said wedge element.y i

2. AIna device of the character described,` l

the combination with afr'ame member, and a spring member of a vehicleyof a housing pivotally mountedv upon said frame by means of a pivot pin extending there'-V through; av block on said pin; a wedge elementv having spaced legs s traddling said block; friction Vshoes co-acting with the legs of said wedge element; wedge surfaces coacting withthe friction surfaces ofxsaid shoes, certain `of ysaid wedge surfaces being yieldably urged tcward said shoes; a link pivotally connected to said framefat a point spaced from said housing, the free end of said link having a pivotal connection with the outer end' of said wedge element; and an actuating link pivotally connected t0 said link intermediate its end, and having a piv-V Y otal connection withrsaid spring member. the member-22 will be forced inwardly ref i c 3. 'A shockabsorbing device including a housing; of a friction member extending into said housing. and movable lengthwise Y relativelythereto, said friction member comprising twospaced arms; afixed friction block interposed between said arms, said block and arms having (zo-operating friction surfaces; friction shoes Within the housing and co-operating with said arms, said Shoes and arms having engaging sets of friction surfaces inclined with respect to said rst named friction surfaces, said friction shoes having Wedge faces at the opposite ends thereof, the housing having Xed Wedge `10 means co-operating With the Wedge faces at one end of the shoes; .a Wedge member having vvedging engagement with the Wedge faces at the other end of the shoe; and spring means Within the housing opposing movement of said Wedge member.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of November, 1926.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

